WOMEN IN PRINT.

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 90, 13 October 1916, Page 9

WOMEN IN PRINT.

Miss Gladys Merton, of Christchurch, has left for England. On arrival she joins the staff of the Wa-lton-on-Thames Hospital.

A Bill is to be brought into the French Parliament to defeat the ingenious trick resorted to by enemy, alien women subjects. A certain number of German women living in France have contracted bona fide marriages with Frenchmen since the war, and thus acquire French nationality,- but other women of enemy nations have used fictitious marriages as a means of remaining in, or coming to, France for- their own ends. One wealthy German'woman went through a form of marriage with a shoeblack in a French provincial town, agreeing to make him an allowance for life. Another enemy alien woman in Switzerland went through a form of marriage with an aged French bricklayer, and thus went to France. The new Bill will put a stop to these practices, and women who have contracted these marriages with Frenchmen will be interned.

There is a great scarcity of skilled- and trained nurses in England, according to a letter received recently from Sister Grace Crumpj formerly a deaconess in Christchurch. In writing to a Christchurch lady, she mentions that in England 160,000 beds, occupied by sick and wounded soldiers, have to be looked after. In August alone the estimated British casualties were 132,000, in addition to a large proportion of German wounded who had to be looked after. A private letter recently received by Mr. Arthur E. G. Rhodes, of Christchurch, stated that in August 2000 sick and wounded New Zealanders were being treated in hospitals other than those specially provided for New Zealanders.

Mrs. M'Vicar presided over the weekly meeting of the New Zealand Natives' Association Ladies' Guild, which was held at the Natives' Hall. Members ol the guild'al-e kept very busy just now, .and the reports from the different committees show that the work is being carried out in a very satisfactory manner.

At the annual meeting of the Wellington South Nursing Division of St. John Ambulance Brigade overseas there was a fair attendance presided over by Dr. Platts-Mills. After the election of four new members, the report and balancesheet were considered and adopted. This compares very favourably with last year, and shows an improvement generally. Votes of thanks were given to the press for so generously reporting meetings, to the doctors for giving lectures and conducting the re-examination through ■the year., to Mr. C. Martin for his great interest in instructing classes in signalling, and to Mr Ludwig for gratuitously auditing the accounts. At the close of the business, the doctor presented the trophy won by a 7 squad consisting of Mesdames Gaby (leader), Thomson, Russell, and Miss Richards, for a divisional competition. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the doctor for presiding, also for the gift of the trophy.

The recent elections held in Japan mark the first time in the history of that country that women have taken an active part in politics.

Christchurch ladies at present are devoting much time and originality to their effort on behalf of Trafalgar l)»y celebrations. .Oh that occasion a "flag day" is to be held, the members of the Navy League having arrangements well in hand. A novel . scheme -in connection with the sale of flag badges in aid of the fund for dependents of naval men who have lost their lives during the war is that ot a miectllaneous nta.ll. The idea, which has been practised with success in Australia, is to have a stall where people may come and hand in any' old silver, gold ornaments, broken or whole, that they do not want. The articles are then sold to jewellers, and the purchase money goes to the fund.

A very enjoyable social evening was gi-Ten by Mrs. Futter at her residence, Owen-street Ther* was » largb num. ber present, including1 several returned soldiers. Some excellent musical items were rendered by Mrs. Anne Brown, Miss Cottle, Messrs. N orris • Bolsten, Musso, and Cpl. James.

There are at present between one.and two thousand women under the British War Office as army cooks. They wear khaki, live in camps and barracks, mess and draw rations, and are altogether the nearest approach to Thomasina Atkins the army has yet seen. .Three hundred more army cooks are wanted.

A meeting of the heads of sab-commit-tees in connection with "Our Day" Fund was hold at the Mercer-street depot last evening; Mr. T. Young was in the chair, and Mr. Bernard Tripp was in attendance. Tho latter gentleman addressed the meeting and stressed the need of having money always available for Red Cross contingencies. A vote of 'thanks,, proposed by the chairman, and seconded by the Mayoress, Mrs. Luke, was passed to Mr -Tripp for his services in 'England. It was reported that the Town Hall bad been granted for an entertainment on Eed Cross Day, and that the Savage Club had agreed to repeat its Trench Concert" in aid of tbe-funds. Mr. Tripp also addressed the ladies a* the depot in the' afternoon, when he advocated the despatch of monetary contributions to the New Zealand War Contingent Association in England for expenditure on the colonial hospitals. The system of accommodating the New ZeaJanders was to collect them in the various institutions sat aside for the colonials. The convalescent cases were sent to Homchurch, where they were .divided into three classes —fit for service; unfit for six months; and those, not likely to be fit in six months. The latter were usually sent home. General Richardson and Colonel Parkes had organised.a splendid system for reception and treatment of the wounded, and had opened a store at Southampton for supplies from New Zealand. Captain Green was in charge here. The speaker announced the appointment of Mr. Charles Elgar as Commissioner for New Zealand in connection with the Colonial institutioois, and .said he considered no praise .was too much for the War Contingent Association in its Bed Cross operations. There were committees in every town, whose members inspect the hospitals and report on Now Zealanders' requirements. Soldiers on leave could go to Russell-square Hostel, provided by the association in London ; Salisbury also had a hostel. Pyjamas were wanted in England, also slip "p'ers, hospital suits, ate, while tinned goods were needed also. No bandages were required for a time Several recommendations were given, as to packing, and the speaker assured the relatives of men in England that everything for the best was being clone for them. The Mayoress conveyed the ladies' thanks to Mi. Tripp for his able address and practical assistance.

Mrs. M. H. ■ ChatfieW left to-day on a. holiday visit to Nelson, where she will be the guest of Miss Richmond.

In charge of coats and parcels at Syd-ney-street Soldiers' Club next week are the following ladies :—Sunday, Mrs. SommerviUe; Monday, Miss Jenkyns; Tuesday, Miss Wheeler; Wednesday, Miss Mackellar; Thursday, Miss Marshall; Friday, Mrs. H. S. Hadfield; Saturday, Miss Van Staveren.

The Brooklyn Serenaders were the entertainers at the Returned Soldiers' Club last evening. There was a big audience in the social hall, and the efforts of fehe performers were greatly appreciated. After the concert, the Serenaders and audiunce were entertained to supper in the club buffet, a dance following in the upstairs room. The rooms were prettily decorated, the ladies' committee having arranged flowers artistically.

Me. and Mrs. E. J. Can-oil, of Brisbane, who arrived an Wellington by the Sydney boat on Tuesday, left for Auckland last evening. Mr. Carroll is well known in theatrical management circles.

The men in the Aotea Convalescent Honfe in Egypt, as well as the nurses, will not be forgotten this Christmas. The Countess of Liverpool Fund Committee has prepared some 200 parcels for distribution,.

The winner of the open tonrnament instituted by the Miramar (Ladies) Golf Club turned up in Mrs. Guy Williams (Masterton), after a most exciting final with Miss E. Eobieson, also a Masterton competitor. The 21st green decided the contest. The competition realised about £24 on behalf of the Soldiers' Christmas Gift Fund. Over fifty ladies competed. The other matches resulted as follows:—Record score for the season, Mrs. R. P. Ward ; medal handicap (senior),, Mrs. Firth; medal handicap (junior), Miss Pearson; bogey handicap (senior), Miss Gambril]; bogey handicap (junior), Miss Richardson, and Miss Pearson, who tied, and will play off at a later date; foursome sti-oke handicap, Mrs. Guy Fulton and Miss West; flag competition, Miss Doughty ; and putting, Mrs. R. P. Ward and Mrs.'Fulton.

At the Sydney-street Soldiers' Club last evening the men from the camps were treated to a musical exhibition, the instrument used being the Ukulele, the favourite of the Hawaiian .people. The Royal Hawaiians played the Ukulele when they visited Wellington some years ago, and last night's selections were received with applause by the soldiers. Mr. Turner's mandoline orchestra manipulated the instrument, which is guitar-like in shape and harp-like in tone. It brings out all the weird romance of the Island songs.

Miss Greenwood presided over the monthly meeting of the Levin Memorial Home Committee. The matron reported that the general health of the children was good. Tlie receipt of the following goods was acknowledged:—-Mrs. Meek, flannelette; Miss D. Greenwood, print; Mrs. Mantell, calico; Miss Williams, jam and clothing; Mesdames H. Mall, and W. Young, cakes and buns; Hiircomb and Son, weekly donation of fish.

The influence that women will exercise on the conscription referendum is fully appreciated by the Federal Prime Minister (Mr.' Hughes). At a crowded ladies' meeting at Adelaide, the Premier had a rousing reception. He said that it was the first time in the history of tho civilised world that the conscription issue had been submitted to the people of the nation, and for the first time in the history of the world that the voice of the women on the greatest question that could confront any community was to be heard. .Australian wdinen were en-. dowed with the full rights of citizenship ; they were considered the equals of men, and were consulted op all questions—even on this, the greatest of all. In Germany the women were not only denied the franchise; but were regarded as mere household chattels. "The women of Australia must prove that they are worthy to be the mothers and Wives of free men," concluded the Premier, after an impassioned speech. "They must set to the world a glorious example, and bid their men to go forth and do battle for their country." -

The Celestial with a pigtail wound tightly round his head, going along at a jog-trot with evenly-balanced . vegetable baskets over his shoulders, is practically a thing of the past in New Zealand. Witli the overthrow of the old Chinese dynasty some five or six years ago "John Chinaman" discarded his queue . and cropped his shiny black haiv. in European style. He adopted Europcanised methods to a greater extent, and .was not content to be just a peripatetic pedlar of "greengroceries." He went in more extensively for shop-keeping, and methods that appealed more to the white race. The result was that the younger generation of Chinese imbibed different views to their forebears, and if any intending purchaser now enters a Chinese shop he is often attended to by a spruce-looking young Celestial, instead of one whose years lie heavy on his shoulders. The increase in the number of young Chinese in Wellington, was forcibly, demonstrated at the little

"'family gathering" held in the Chinese Mission Hall in Frederick-street, on Wednesday -^evening, when the scholars at the Mission entertained their European teachers. With scarcely an exception every Chinese present was a young son "of the Flowery Land arrayed in his best "bib and tucker." Collectively they sab spick and span —and there were quite a number of them—arranged nicely on seats placed parallel to one wall, while'the rest of those preseat, mostly Europeans, were seated on the opposite side. The decorum and behaviour of the young Chinese were a striking tribute to the efforts of the workers of the Mission, who devote much of their time to the spiritual well-being of 'the men from the Orient. Tho pi'oceodings opened with a selection by a small orchestra, the members of which played Chinese instruments. Weird sounds were produced, but. the audience listened attentively, making no demur at the length of the selection. Keen on its task, the orchestra showed signs of monopolising the ■whole of the evening, but even if it had carried on for a week it is quite conceivable that the Chinese members of the audience, placid, inscrutable, and imperturbable, would have sat still and suffered in silence. After the orchestra had worked itself almost to a standstill, an enjoyable and diversified programme given by supportei-s of the Mission, was proceeded with. It consisted of vocal and miscellaneous items, and-par-lour and other games. These latter included musical chairs, potato races, and a liat-lrimming competition for Chinese. The chairman was the Rev. A. M. Johnson, and Mrs. Wang gave valuable assistance in making file evening's entertainment a success.